St Austell and Newquay to benefit from upgraded sports facilities

More than £25,000 of investment is coming to the region in a bid to get more people active

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 25th May 2023
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                More than £25,000 is coming to St Austell and Newquay to upgrade the region's sports facilities.

It's part of the Government's £300 million grassroots scheme in a big to get more of us active.

MP Steve Double has welcomed the cash - saying grassroots facilities like these are essential to nurture future talent and help with our health and wellbeing.

In total, £25,106 of investment is coming in from the government to transform sports facilities in the constituency to get more people active and nurture future sporting talent.

Projects support a range of facility types, from the creation or upgrade of changing rooms, grass pitches and 3G football turf pitches and pavilions, to floodlights, fencing and improved disabled access.

At least 50 per cent per cent of investment will be spent in underprivileged areas, with the programme ensuring 'particular focus' on increasing participation among underrepresented groups such as women and girls, and those with a disability.

This will help to deliver the huge mental health and wellbeing benefits associated with sport, improving the wellbeing of the nation and helping to cut NHS waiting lists. Cutting waiting lists is one of the government’s five priorities, as well as halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, and stopping the boats.

Steve Double said: “Grassroots facilities are essential for nurturing future sporting talent and encouraging people to get active which benefits their physical and mental wellbeing.

“That is why I welcome the funding from the Conservative Government which will see St Austell and Newquay benefit from £25,106 to improve our local sports facilities and help more people access them. With local sports groups including Indian Queens Youth FC, Charlestown Youth FC, St Stephens AFC and Par Track getting their share of this funding, I look forward to seeing it drawn down and deployed for the benefit of local people.”

“Helping people get active is key to delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to cut NHS waiting lists by encouraging people to live healthier lives and become more engaged in sport.”

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health.”

“Today we are delivering more than 1,700 new and improved grassroots sports facilities across the UK to continue to support, sustain and grow community and grassroots sport - so that physical activity is accessible to all, no matter a person’s background or location.”

Across the UK, 1,700 new and improved multi-sports grassroots facilities are benefiting from £68 million from the Government – improving access to high-quality facilities.

This funding comes from the latest allocations of a £300 million UK wide capital investment in grassroots facilities to deliver upgrades, improvements and new pitches – making more high-quality facilities available for people to play football, hockey and other grassroots sports.

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